In your gloomy Thursday media column: Eritrea is the pits (of journalism), Erin Burnett is unpopular, the WSJ Europe circulation scandal continues, The Guardian U.S. is optimistic, and Michael Miner is an OG (of journalism).

Eritrea is the lowest ranked country in the world for press freedom. The detain and imprison journalists. It would be nice if they didn't. "Dawit Isaak, the founder of Eritrea's first independent newspaper...has been in prison in Eritrea for the past nine years without charge or trial." It's unknown whether Isaak is even alive today. Anyone who cares about journalistic freedom could register their displeasure with the Eritrean Embassy, were they so inclined.